Hand saver

ABSTRACT

A device for use in carrying shopping bags, cartons and the like having handles of cord-like material comprises a body of flexible, resilient material having at least one pair of separated, confronting surfaces for grippingly receiving a cordlike handle therebetween.

Stauffer Apr. 2, 1974 HAND SAVER 3,486,684 12/1969 DlllS c1 1. 16/114 B 2,846,714 8/1958 Charlick [76] Inventor "f" Slam", 5536 Everett 2,519,186 8/1950 Herbert ct al 16/114 B Ch1cago, Ill. 60637 22 l 14 1972 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman [21] Appl' 280551 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Olson, Trexler, Wolters,

Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd. [52] US. Cl. 16/116 51 lm. c1 A47b 95/02 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 16/114 B, 116, 126, 125; A device for use in carrying shopping bags, cartons 229/54 C, 52 AC; 150/].7 and the like having handles of cord-like material comprises a body offlexible, resilient material having at [56] References Cited least one pair of separated, confronting surfaces for NIT D S S PATENTS grippingly receiving a cord-like handle therebetween. 2,448,894 9/1948 Laus 16/1 14 B 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HAND SAVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to carrying devices and more particularly to a device for reducing the discomfort associated with carrying heavy objects by gripping of cord-like like members with the naked hand.

Numerous heavy objects such as shopping bags and cartons containing divers types of merchandise have heretofore been commonly carried by the manual gripping of handles or binding of cord-like material such as cordage of natural or synthetic fibers and resinous plastic substitutes therefor. Much discomfort has resulted, even to the extent of actual physical injury in the case of extremely heavy objects or prolonged periods of carrying. Aids improvised from pocket handkerchiefs and other readily available objects have sometimes been employed but without completely alleviating personal discomfort and leaving much to be desired in the way of related characteristics.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a carrying device for gripping cordlike handles in a completely comfortable and psycho-,

logically assuring manner.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device for packages suspended from cord-like members.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention, both as to its structure and its mode of use, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional shopping bag combined with a carrying device constructed in compliance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the carrying device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the showing of FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified form of the carrying device of the present invention; I

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a still further modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in cross-section taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view taken in cross-section substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS Referring nowin detail to the drawing, specifically to FIG. 1, a conventional shopping bag indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 includes a pair of pleated end portions 12 and a pair of looped, cord-like handle elements 14 and 16 which are secured to the 7 body of the shopping bag by means such as adhesively effect between the cord-like handles 14 and 16 and the palm or fingers of the user. The. use of resilient material for the body 22 also imparts a very slight bouncing action to the carried load whereby to give the user an impression that the carried burden is actually lighter than it is in reality.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 2, the body 22 is fashioned with a first pair of separated, confronting surfaces 24 and 26 which extend the longitudinal extent of the resilient body for grippingly receiving one of the cord-like handles therebetween, as is shown generally in FIG. 5. In accordance with the construction of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, a second pair of separated, confronting, longitudinally extended surfaces 28 and 30 are provided in the resilient body 22 spaced laterally from the cooperating surfaces 24 and 26 for grippingly receiving a second cord-like handle therebetween as is shown in FIG. 5. Lateral spacing of the pairs of surfaces to provide side slits for receiving the cord-like handles 14 and 16 situates'the respective handles in relative load-balancing relationship. Advantageously, the resilient body 22 is fashioned with a pair of spaced, opposed walls 32 and 34 interjacent the pairs of handle-gripping surfaces whereby to define an access channel communicating with the side surfaces. The carrying device 20 may thus be readily assembled to the shopping bag 10 by merelyplacing the handles 14 and 16 together in the channel formed between the walls 32 and 34 and urging the handles between the respective gripping surfaces as is shown in FIG. 5.

Advantageously, the under surface of the resilient body 22 includes four transverse grooves 36 for accommodating the fingers of the user and insuring the proper positioning of the carrying device 20 within the hand of the user. Use offoam material for the body 22 promotes circulation of air to the hand of the user and thereby increases the comfort. factor. As will be appreciated, the carrying device 20 may be readily assembled and disassembled with respect to the shopping bag 10 or a similar burden having cord-like members to be gripped in lifting and transporting the load. Accordingly, the device 20 can be carried in a pocket or purse for immediate use when the occasion arises. Furthermore, the cooperation of the pairs of gripping surfaces, surfaces 24 and 26 and surfaces 28 and 30 respectively, insures positive attachment to the supported and car ried article when the same has been lifted for transportation.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been thus far shown and described, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. Accordingly, two modified forms of the invention are shown in FIG. 3 and in FIGS. 4 and 6 respectively. The elements of the embodiment of FIG. 3 which are similar to the elements of the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 are distinguished by the suffix letter a; and the elements of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 6 which are similar to the elements of the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 are identified with the suffix letter b."

' The carrying device 20a of FIG. 3 is distinguished by the provision of a semi-cylindrical lower surface 38 which omits the finger grooves 36 best seen in FIG. 2. On the other hand, the carrying device 20b of FIGS. 4 and 6 is distinguished by the provision of a passageway 40 which opens through opposite end faces 42 and 44 of the resilient body 22a. Otherwise, the passageway 40 is closed in order to receive the cord-like handle 14b in confined relationship. Furthermore, means are advantageously provided for permanently securing the cordlike handle 14b in the passageway 40; and such means as adhesive attachment aand molding of the body 22b about the handle 14b for embedding the same therein may be utilized.

The carrying device 20b is also distinguished by the configuration of the walls 32b and 34b so as to provide an upwardly opening channel which is tapered from its widest region adjacent its center to narrower regions adjacent its ends, as is best shown in FIG. 4. .This configuration of the walls 32b and 34b and of the channel defined therebetween promotes automatic convergence of the cord-like handles 14b and 16b upon lifting of the carried item with resultant automatic closure of the open upper end of a shopping bag when the same is the carried item. The opposite ends of the channel defined by walls 32b and 34b are preferably divided by vertical slits 46 in order to facilitate entry of the cordlike handle 16b and its positioning between the gripping surfaces 24b and 26b. The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of use. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated in the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A device for use in carrying shopping bags, cartons and the like having handles of cord-like material, said carrying device comprising: a body of flexible, resilient material having a pair of separable, confronting, normally abutting surfaces extending from a common root to a handle-receiving mouth for grippingly receiving a cord-like handle upon forcible urging of said handle therebetween, the resiliency of said body urging said surfaces toward each other to grip said handle.

2. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said body of flexible, resilient material has a second pair of separable, confronting, normally abutting surfaces spaced laterally from said first pair of surfaces and extending from a common root to a handlereceiving mouth for grippingly receiving a second cordlike handle therebetween, in load-balancing relationship with said first-mentioned handle.

3. A Carrying device according to claim 2 wherein said body of flexible, resilient material further includes spaced, opposed walls interjacent said pairs of gripping surfaces for defining an access channel communicating with said surfaces. 

1. A device for use in carrying shopping bags, cartons and the like having handles of cord-like material, said carrying device comprising: a body of flexible, resilient material having a pair of separable, confronting, normally abutting surfaces extending from a common root to a handle-receiving mouth for grippingly receiving a cord-like handle upon forcible urging of said handle therebetween, the resiliency of said body urging said surfaces toward each other to grip said handle.
 2. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said body of flexible, resilient material has a second pair of separable, confronting, normally abutting surfaces spaced laterally from said first pair of surfaces and extending from a common root to a handle-receiving mouth for grippingly receiving a second cord-like handle therebetween, in load-balancing relationship with said first-mentioned handle.
 3. A Carrying device according to claim 2 wherein said body of flexible, resilient material further includes spaced, opposed walls interjacent said pairs of gripping surfaces for defining an access channel communicating with said surfaces. 